An evening exploring gender, fair trade and the ‘tipping point’ – what influences women to take action and have a lasting impact in the fair trade movement.

Gender and Fair Trade: The Story of Women Cocoa Farmers in Fair Trade
This short film produced by Dr Roy Maconachie from Bath University at the Centre for Development Studies (CDS) highlights the impacts of Fairtrade for female cocoa-producers in Ghana and illustrates the significant challenges which remain in promoting greater gender equality in agriculture.

Kwame Banson, Member and Partnership Manager of Fairtrade Africa who is featured in the film, adds: “One of the recurring, important themes in Fairtrade when we try to measure impact is to look at the issue of gender to ensure that women and men get equality in responsibilities and in the sharing of benefits.”

Evening Panel will include: Jamie Hartzell, currently chair of the leading Fairtrade chocolate company Divine, which is 44% owned by Kuapa Kokoo, a Ghanaian cocoa farmers co-operative. Rachel Wilshaw, the Ethical Trade Manager for Oxfam GB. Her role involves advocacy and advice to companies on best practice in relation to labour rights in global supply chains. David Finlay Programme Partnerships Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation where he works in partnership with international Fairtrade networks. The discussion will be chaired by Oxford Fair Trade Coalition Chair, Sabita Banerji.

Free Event
Light refreshments sponsored by Lady Margaret Hall and Christ Church College (Fair Trade Colleges and Members of the Oxford Fair Trade Coalition). Special thanks to our venue sponsor Christ Church College.

FINDING A NEW WAY FORWARD FOR FAIRTRADE – BUILDING A STRONGER MOVEMENT

Jamie Hartzell, Chair of the Divine Chocolate Company and Dr Matthew Anderson, University of Portsmouth, will debate the motion.

“While Fairtrade has achieved a fantastic amount for farmers and workers in the Global South in the last twenty years, it needs to be radically reformed if it is to achieve similar impact in the next twenty’, followed by break out into small groups to discuss possible ways forward for FT, followed by a vote on the motion! – might we promote it more widely?

Recognition of, and support for, the Fairtrade mark remains high. But recent events would imply that the willingness of businesses to use the Fairtrade mark is declining. This is true for both the large multinational companies and the smaller, more dedicated Fair Trade businesses. And for some consumers, Fairtrade is seen as less pioneering than in the

Join us for a lively debate and to share your ideas on how to build a stronger Fairtrade Movement.